Stake-type support for awning posts



March 5, 1957 E. B. SMOLENSKI 2,

STAKE-TYPE SUPPORT FOR AWNING POSTS Filed D60. 30, 1955 2'76. 5 g IN VEN TOR.

fan 420 B. 5/1401 E/VS/f/ L L BY ATTOEA/EYS United States Patento STAKE-TYPE SUPPORT FOR AWNING POSTS Edward B. Smolenski, La Mesa, Calif.

Application December 30, 1955, Serial No. 556,615

Claims. (Cl. 135-15) In many instances, it is desired to extend an awning from a dwelling structure, in a more or less temporary arrangement, in many instances directly over the ground surface. This is true forexample, with respect to trailers. One residing in a house trailer may have an awning extending along theside of the trailer, and a problem arises, in such situations, with respect to suitably mounting the awning support posts.

The posts of the awning frame, it should be noted, should desirably be mounted, in circumstances of the type referred to, in a manner such that they will be firmly supported in an upstanding position, while at the same time being readily removable so that they can be erected at another location if, for example, one travels to said other location with the trailer and intends to remain there for a period of time. 7 I p The main object of the present-invention is to provide a stake type holder or support for the posts of an awning frame. of. the type described, which support can be swiftly and easily driven directly into the ground surface, and which, when so driven, will support the awning posts in the desired position.

Another object is to associate with the holder means for attaching the awning-tensioning cables or ropes to the holder following erection of the awning frame and the associated awning cover.

Still another object of importance is to include in a stake-type holder of the nature described a construction such that a swingable head of the stake can automatically adjust itself to a horizontal position regardless of any inclination of the driven stake.

Other objects will appear from the following description, the claims appended thereto, and from the annexed drawing, in which like reference characters designate like parts throughout the the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a holder formed according to the present invention, the dotted lines showing different positions to which the head thereof may be swingably adjusted relative to the length of the holder;

Figure 2 is an end elevation, as seen from the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a top plan view, on an enlarged scale;

Figure 4 is a side elevational view showing the manner in which the stakes are associated with a supported awning; and

Figure 5 is a front elevational view of Figure '4.

Designated generally at 8 are the stakes constituting the present invention. Each stake includes an elongated, flat body 10 integral along one longitudinal edge thereof with a flange 12, the body thus being of right-angular cross section at all locations along its length, to impart rigidity and strength thereto.

At its lower end the body 10 is beveled obliquely as at 14, while the flange 12 is also beveled as at 16, thus providing a point at the lower end of the stake body, in

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view of the fact thatthe beveled surfaces or edges 14,

16 converge to meet at the lower extremity of the stake. Adjacent its upper end, the body 10 is formed with a smooth-walled opening, receiving a connecting bolt 20, on which is threaded a nut 22. The bolt 20 passes through a depending lip 24 of a flat, rectangular head 26, said head thus being mounted upon the body of the stake for swinging movement about an axis normal to the length of the stake.

The head 26, as will be appreciated, after being swung relative to the stake body, is secured in theselected position of adjustment by turning the nut 22 home;

against the adjacent surface of stake body 10.

Formed in the head 26, adjacent one end thereof, is a circular opening 28, while at the other end of the :head

there is formed a wide slot 30, extending longitudinally,

. frame has not been shown in detail, but it will be understood that it is suitably fashioned to support an awning covering, with said covering projecting outwardlyfrom an associated trailer body, also not shown, or other; dwelling structure. g

The posts 34 are provided at their lower'ends with flat base plates 38, and in mounting the awning frame, upon the stake type holder 8, the bodies of the stakes; are driven into the ground surface G, until the heads 26 are in direct'engagement with the ground surface, at the lower edges of the lips 24. It will be noted, in this regard, that to provide for an anchor of maximum strength, the stakes can be driven into the ground at an incline, converging downwardly. This construction imparts to the stakes a characteristic wherein they will resist to the maximum any pressures or pull thereon tending to uproot the same. The downwardly converging relation of the stakes causes the stakes to grip the ground in cooperation with one another, for the purpose of preventing loosening of the supported awning frame.

When the stakes are driven at an incline into the ground in this manner, as the heads reach the ground surface, they automatically level themselves to the ground surface. Then, the nuts 22 can be turned home, to insure to the maximum extent against subsequent rocking movement of the heads.

The base plates 38 of the awning frames are then positioned upon the horizontal heads 26, and bolts 40 are extended through openings formed in the base plates, which openings register with the aperture 28 and slot 30 of each head 26.

Thereafter, the covering 42 of the awning is positioned over the awning frame, and the end ropes or cables of the covering, designated at 44, are tensioned and secured to and within the hooks 18.

It will be seen that the construction is one which permits the awnings to be erected and dismantled with ease. Further, the stakes themselves can be readily driven into the ground and also can be removed from the ground with minimum difliculty, for use at a new location.

It is believed clear that the invention is not necessarily confined to the specific use or uses thereof described above, since it may be utilized for any purpose to which it may be suited. Nor is the invention to be necessarily limited to the specific construction illustrated and de- Patented :Mar. 5, 1957,

scribed, since such construction is only intended to be illustrative of the principles of operation and the means presently devised to carry out said principles, it being considered that the invention comprehends any minor changes in construction that may be permitted within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A stake type holder for an awning post comprising an elongated body adapted to be extended into an associated support surface; and a generally flat head pivotally connected to the upper end of said body and adapted for connection to the lower end of said post.

2. A stake type holder for awning posts and the like, comprising an elongated body of angular cross section pointed at its lower end for driving of said body into the ground surface; and a generally flat head pivotally connected to the upper end of said body, for adjustment of said head to a horizontal position regardless of the inclination with which the body is driven into the ground surface.

3. A stake type holder for an awning post, comprising an elongated body integrally formed along one longitudinal edge thereof with a flange extending angularly to the plane of the body, said flange and body having converging beveled edges providing a pointed tip on one end of the holder, for driving of the body and flange into the ground surface; a head connected to the upper end portion of said body for pivotal movement about an axis normal to the length of the body, whereby to adjust said head to a horizontal position regardless of the inclination with which the body is driven into the ground surface; and a hook fixedly secured to the flange, adjacent the head, and adapted to receive an awning rope.

4. A stake type holder for the posts of an awning frame over which is to be tensioned a covering having a depending anchoring rope, comprising an elongated body adapted to extend into a ground surface; a head pivotally 4 1 connected to the upper end of said body, said head including a flat post support portion and a depending lip in contact with said body, said portion having spaced apertures, whereby to receive connecting bolts passing between said post and said portion; and hook means on the body adjacent said head adapted for connection of said awning ropes thereto.

5. A stake type holder for the posts of an awning frame over which is to be tensioned a covering including an anchoring rope, comprising an elongated, fiat, wide body; a flange integral with the body and one longitudinal edge thereof and extending angularly to the body, said flange and body at one end having beveled edges converging to provide a point on the holder for driving of the body and flange into the ground surface; a head including a flat awning post support portion and a lip depending from one edge of said portion in contact with said body; a bolt extending through said lip and body to pivotally mount the head on the body, whereby to permit disposition of'the head in a horizontal plane without regard to any inclination of the body; a nut threaded on said bolt against the body for securing the head in selected positions to which it is pivotally connected relative'to the body, said portion of the head having spaced apertures adapted to receive connecting bolts, whereby to permit attachment of the awning posts to said portion of the head; and a downwardly opening hook fixedly secured to said flange adjacent the head, for connection of the awning rope to said hook.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 992,383 Paul May 16, 1911 1,146,128 Brune July 13, 1915 2,001,196 Jost May 14, 1935 2,149,081 Wright Feb. 28, 1939 2,755,009 Parker July 17, 1956 

